title: [First experience in the thyroid and parathyroid surgery using the da Vinci® system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic surgery for the treatment of thyroid and parathyroid pathologies is gaining increasing attention. The da Vinci® system has been already widely used in different fields of medicine including recently thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Herein we report our first experiences in endoscopic surgery of thyroid and parathyroid pathologies using the da Vinci® system.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 patients presenting with struma nodosa in 6 cases and parathyroid adenomas in 2 cases have been treated using the da Vinci® system at the ENT department of Homburg/Saar University.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin incision to introduce the instruments with the da Vinci® system were axilar or at the lateral segment of the clavicle. The neurovascular structures like inferior laryngeal nerve as well as the pathologies were clearly 3-dimensional visualized in all 8 cases. No paralysis of the vocal cord was observed. All patients had in histological examination a benign pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid gland can be performed using the da Vinci® system and offers an excellent, intraoperative, 3-dimensional visualization of the neurovascular structures. Additionally the da Vinci® system enables skin incisions within considerable distance from the thyroid and parathyroid gland.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Kadah
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siemer
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schick
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*